Over 500 pilgrims died of extreme heat during Hajj

Riyadh: At least 577 pilgrims died due to heatstroke during the current Hajj season in Makkah.

According to the foreign news agency, 323 of the pilgrims who died of the heat are from Egypt, while 144 are from Indonesia.

The news agency reported that 60 pilgrims from Jordan and 35 from Tunisia died due to heat, while 11 pilgrims from Iran and three from Senegal died due to heat during Hajj.

According to the news agency, the temperature in Makkah was recorded as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius on Monday.

It is pertinent to note that the Saudi Meteorological Department had predicted severe heat during the Hajj season this year and accordingly, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had arranged water fountains and cold water for the pilgrims.

Apart from this, the Saudi administration had also instructed pilgrims from different countries to take precautionary measures to avoid the heat.